Method and mechanism for shutteless looms



June 9, 1953 M. R. FLAMAND METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMSFiled Nov. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MAURICE QFLAMAND ATTORNEYJune 9, 1953 M. R. FLAMAND 2,641,235

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR SHUTTLELESS LOQMS Filed Nov. 28, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAURICE BFLAMAND ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1953UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMSMaurice R. Flamand, Central Falls, R. I., assignor to DraperCorporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine 12 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in methods of weaving inso-called shuttleless looms. and more specifically, to improvements in amethod of operation of such looms which result indrawing the filling atslower rate from the supply, and in improvements in the 1nechanism whichmake it possible to accomplish this desired result.

It is a general object of the invention to control the instrumentalitieswhich perform the insertion of the filling in looms of the typedescribed so that the filling shall be drawn at a much slower rate as itis pulled from the source of supply, thereby to obviate insofar ispracticable the tendency to break the filling by the firstinstrumentality at which time the material is being drawn mainly fromthe supply.

It is a more specific object of the invention so to control the timingand relative rates of speed and the distances moved by theinstrumentalities which insert the filling, that the initial insertingmovement by which the filling is drawn from the source of supply startsits movement very close to the filling to be inserted and engages thatfilling while moving at a relatively slow rate of speed as compared tothe speed of sim ilar mechanisms heretofore employed.

It is a further object of the invention to so control the movement ofinstrumentalities which insert filling in looms of the type describedthat the filling inserting member first to engage the filling movesthroughout a considerably shorter distance than does the second memberor instrumentality which extends the end of the inserted filling over tothe opposite side of the fabric, while at the same time moving thatfirst mentioned instruineirtality at a relatively slow lineal speed ascompared to the lineal speed at which the said second instrumentalityfunctions.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a shuttleless loom andto provide a mode of operation therefor in which the carrier first toengage and to project a doubled length of thread for a pick shall notonly engage the filling at a relatively slow rate of movement, but shalltravel throughout its entire cycle at a much slower speed especially atthat time at which, on certain picks, the filling must be straightenedslack therein is taken up.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingmore detailed dis closure.

Shuttlelsss looms of this type have reciprocahle filling carriers whichtake filling from an outside source of supply (a supply not carried by ashuttle or inserting instrument) and function to measure oil and insertan amount of filling sufiicient for reaching across the width of thefabric being Woven. One carrier then transfers that filling to a secondinstrumentality which, upon release of an end of the measured material,draws that end or extends it over to the opposite side of the fabricthereby to complete the laying of one pick. These looms have one obviousdisadvantage, namely, that of draw.- ing the filling from the source ofsupply at a very rapid rate. Since the filling is held at one end andcomes from the supply only as it is inserted into the first part of theshed, and since the initial carrier or instrumentality draws a doubledlength of material, the speed of filling withdrawal is relatively twicewhat it would be in the conventional loom, that is, while operating atthe same relative number of picks per minute. This more or lessunavoidable and in herent characteristic of these looms gives rise toconsiderable difilculty in that the filling may be broken during theinitial measuring or insertion thereof by the first instrumentality toengage it and it is this inherent characteristic which it is the objectof theinstant invention to alleviate or improve upon insofar as is pacticable.

Ihe invention relates both to a method of weaving and to the mechanismtherefor and briefly, the improvement involves operating the carrier orinserting instrumentality first to engage the filling at a relativelyslow linear velocity as compared to the velocity at'which the secondinstrumentality functions as it receives the filling material andextends a released end thereof across the remainder of the fabric. Theactual amount of time involved for the inserting and retractingmovements of each carrier or inserting instrumentality is the same,however, the mechanism is so devised that the amount of distance coveredby the carrier which performs the initial inserting function isconsiderably less than the distance covered by the oppositeinstrumentality and also, the speed of movement thereof is considerablyslower. In addition to this, the mechanism is so arranged that the firstcarrier starts its movement very close to the thread which is picked upby it and that carrier, the movement of which follows a somewhatmodified harmonic motion, engages the thread at a very slow rate ofspeed as compared to the speed at which contact wouldhave been made ifpermitted to function in accordance with the prior art.

While several different arrangements of mechanism may be employed torealize the advantages herein set forth, the main objective isaccomplished if the carrier driving mechanism is so moved that thedistance travelled by the first or inserting carrier is substantiallyless as above described and also the speed of movement thereofcorrespondingly lower than that of the second carrier to receive thefilling thereby to compensate to a relatively great extent for the factthat the initial inserting and measuring movement is one which drawsfrom the supply the entire amount of filling required even though theperiod of time consumed is only one-half that incidental to theinsertion of an entire pick.

Here the inserting mechanism is of a type involving flexible tapes whichare caused to enter and to recede from the fabric shed by being wrappedabout and then unwrapped from tape wheels, so-called, which are drivenat a prescribed rate of speed by mechanism including eccentrics andgearing therefrom to the said wheels. The eccentric at that side of theloom at which the carrier first to engage the filling is located and, ofcourse, at which side the filling supply is located, has a smaller throwor less eccentricity than that at the opposite side. It, therefore, moveits tape wheel throughout a lesser angular extent than that at theopposite side, although since the eccentrics are mounted on the sameshaft, the same period of time is consumed for the oscillation of onewheel as for the other. They also start and stop their movement in eachdirection at the same instant. In addition to the structural changesjust outlined, the instrumentality or carrier which first engages thefilling is set to start its movement very close to the edge of thefabric and very close to the filling to be engaged, so that the harmonicmovement imparted thereto will not have progressed to the point at whichthe carrier will have built up more than a very low velocity at the timeit contacts and starts to pull the filling from the supply.

The invention will be described hereinafter by reference to oneparticular embodiment thereof as outlined in the accompanying figures ofdrawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a shuttleless loom to which theinvention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the eccentries employed foroscillating the tape wheels.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the vertical center line of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing one part of theeccentric.

Figs. 5-9 are diagrammatic views showing a method of weaving a completecycle of two picks in accordance with the invention.

Now referring to Fig. 1, enough of a loom of the type described is shownto convey an idea of the relative arrangement of the parts involved andthe details of certain of the parts particularly relevant to theimprovements with which we are concerned. The loom is built upon aframework comprising loomsides I [I and II, girts l2 and a breast beaml3, a top motion generally indicated by numeral I4 being supported uponan arch [5 in more or less the conventional fashion and serving tocontrol harness frames such as that at i 6 in cooperation with a harnesscam mechanism (not shown).

At each end of the loom frame are supported in a casing I! at one sideand H3 at the opposite side, tape wheels one of which is illustrated atl9 since the casing I8 is broken away. Supporting structure includingthe braces or brackets 20 and 2| serves to retain these casings and thetape wheel mountings in proper relative relationship to the other partsso that the tape wheels may be oscillated to and fro about axes such asthe axis 22 at the right hand side of the loom. The wheel isinterconnected for movement by an eccentric mechanism 23 carried at theend of a shaft 24 which is rotated in synchronism with other parts ofthe loom and which is positively driven by interconnection to a sourceof power all of which is not evident here since the same is known tothose skilled in the art at this time, one form thereof having beenillustrated in copending application Serial No. 71,622, filed January19, 1949, now U. S. Patent 2,604,123, and in other copendingapplications. The motion imparted through the eccentric mechanism 23 asshaft 24 rotates is conveyed through a rack 25 to a pinion 26 fixed to ashaft 21 and from the shaft 21 to the wheel I9 by miter gears 28 and 29.

The same general arrangement is to be found at each side of the loomalthough the eccentric mechanisms differ as will hereinafter bedescribed, and the tape wheels I 9 have fixed thereto tapes, one ofwhich is indicated at 30 and the other of which is indicated by numeral3|. Tape 30 carries a head or carrier member 32 formed as shown incopending application Serial No. 122,952, now Patent No. 2,604,124,filed October 22, 1949. This head 32 is adapted to engage and to projectinto the shed of the fabric a doubled length of material, one endthereof being held in a binder or retaining element, the fillingactually being drawn from the source of supply S at that time. The othertape 3| has fixed at the free end thereof a carrier member 33 which isformed as shown in the application just above referred to and which isadapted to receive the filling from the first tape as they interengageor go through a transferring function at a point adjacent the center ofthe loom, or adjacent the center of the fabric being woven, and then,upon release of a free end of said filling, extend that end over to theopposite edge of the fabric in a manner understood by those conversantwith the operation of looms of this general description.

In actual operation the transferring function is accomplished at a pointoffset somewhat from the center of the fabric being woven all asillustrated in this Fig. l, the center line of the fabric beingappropriately indicated thereon and the transfer point being indicatedoffset as described since the carrier 33 will meet and receive fillingfrom the carrier 32 as each has moved a very slight distance from theposition which it occupies in the said figure. The actual amount ofoffset of this transferring point may vary for different widths offabric being woven and for different conditions, but, in general, theamount of offset is such as to render the actual distance moved by thetape 30 and carrier 32 something very appreciably less than the distancemoved by the opposite tape and its carrier.

If the eccentrics 23 and 34 and the gearing intermediate thoseeccentrics and the wheels were exactly the same, then the movement ofeach wheel and each type would be the same in that it would movethroughout the same distance and at the same lineal speed so long as thetape wheels were of the same diameter. However, in accordance with theprinciples of the invention, the simplest way to realize a slower linealspeed and a lesser extent of travel for tape 30 and its carrier 32 is toprovide a smaller throw for the agendas eccentric 23 than for that at34. While it is conceivable that the gearing might be varied to arriveat the same general result, or that difiei ential sizes of tape wheelsmight be employed, the latter solutions involve more complication andare probably open to the objection that less standardization of themechanism at either side would be possible. There is a certain amount ofadjustment possible for positions" the wh relatively to one another andalso, oi": the relative positioning of the tapes and their heads .12 andit, but the fact that the throw of one or the eccentrics or equivalentcranl; lice anisrn gives the desired result, makes it preferable to121211.. the two sides of the loom different in that spect only.

Now referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4:, the eccentric comprises a circulargrooved rim carried the ends of a series of op olzes, although thelatter may be supplanted by a solid web, and a hub which iseccentrically arranged with respect to the center of the rim. It isdesirable that the eccentrics be relatively adjustable angularlythroughout a small extent and for that purpose the rim and hub of Fig.4, while mounted on the shaft M, are affixed to a sector ill which tendsradially from a second hub this lat being fixed to the shaft 2 to conveythe dri. movement thereof to the eccentric itself. The interconnectionbetween the eccentric and sector 31 is shown in Fig. 2 and comprisesclamping bolts 39 and ill which pass throw 1 elongated slots in one ofthe parts, preferably the sector, and adjusting screws at ill and 2 forpurp of effecting the angular positionin of the llia bers and forretaining them in that po. ti as they are clamped by the screws or boltsan: it. A sheave 43 formed in two attached parts rotatably disposed uponthe eccentric rim the arm at the end of which the rack is car isthreaded into a tapped hole M or" this or otherwise aihxed thereto.

The above description of one eccentric applies to both, the onlydistinction. being that the eccentricitv of the hub 36 with respect torim is l.

for one than for the other. It is also true that the eccentricity of thehub is with respect to the slots in the sector 3'? varies bycorrespondin amount. It is conceivable that cranks be employed ratherthan eccentrics herein shown and described and. that those cranks may beof different eccentricity, or that a standa d desi n of cranl: havingthe possibility or v. 1g the eccentricity oi the crank pin with respectaxis of revolution as at shaft M may provide for acquiring anyreasonable degree of eccentricity and. thus any reasonable change in.the relative speeds the distances throu hout which tape wheels Ill maybe oscillated.

Now having described the t? 21 changes of mechanism, it is b-.ieved thatinvention will be understood more thoroughly by referring to Figs. 5-9and describing the action of the mechanism incidental to the insertionof two interconnected picks which to make up a so-called hairpin, itbeing understood that these interconnected picks are preferably insertedin the formation of a fabric thereby automatically to provide a selvageat one side of the fabric, although it may be necessary to effect theformation of a selvage at the opposite side by any one of several wellknown additional mechanisms to be applied to the loom. In certaininstances the loom may function to insert single picks notinterconnected to other picks, and in'that' event,

detail. It should suffice here to say that the principles of theinvention are readily applicable to most existing shuttleless looms ofthe type described. The filling presenting means (filling motion) may beidentical with that of the copending application above cited, orcorrespond to that of U. S. Patent 1,745,465. These means include aminimum of a binder cutting means and guides such adapted to hold ashort stretch of the in the pathwa of the inserting member. if connectedpicks (hairpins) are to be inserted, then additional binding element isnecessarily utilized. '1"

parts are conveniently positioned out of th of the lay mernbersand atthe usual osition they occupy on these looms.

In Fig. 5, the filling at suppl 6 passes tln'eue'n an open binding orclamping element and held by a second clamping or bin ent it beingunderstood that the fillin pass in front of or in such position as to bep.- gaged within the forked portion. of the cart vr The carrier 32 isshown at the starting point from which it effects its filling measuringor drawing movement and since the filling end is h .d at binder 4i,any'iilling drawn must come from. the supply S. In Fig. 6 the carrier 32has moved inwardly toward the center of the fabric being woven. theextreme edges of which are illustrated here. The opposite carrier memberso has also moved inwardly. It is to be noted that the same amount oftime will have been consumed in moving each of the carriers from itsinitial position to that of but that the carrier 32 has not had to movenearly so 1'" as carrier as. Its lineal speed is much in fact, actualpractice dictates that its speed may be something in the order of 12 to15 per cent of the speed at which it would travel in the event botheccentric mechanisms were of the same eccentricity so that tape wheelslit at either side move the same distance'ancl, of course, at the samespeed. Since a doubled len 1b of material is drawn at this time, thatis, enough material to reach clear across the fabric when the end at liiis released and drawn to the other side by carrier 33 as illustrated inFigs. 7 and 8, the speed of withdrawal from the cone or supply tends tobe come practically double what it would normally be in the conventionalloom assuming the two were to function in weaving the same number ofpicks per minute. However. the result of this mode of operation and ofthe use of mechan em as herein described is that the speed at which thefilling is drawn from the supply 55 is correspondingly slower that itwould otherwise have been.

As shown in Fig. '7, the carrier 32 functions to draw filling from thesupply only so long as is necessary in order to draw off enough materialso that when the end is released and drawn to the opposite side of thefabric, it will be of sufiicient length to extend to that side and avery short distance beyond, forthe purpose offorming a selvage bytwisting additional threads about these projecting ends, or in someother manner. The point at which transfer is effected and thepositioning of the filling motion parts at the side of the fabric issuch as to draw just enough thread for a pick whereupon release of theend and transfer are effected. That practice maintains tension right upto the point of interengagement of the hooked portion of carrier 33 withthe filling as it is presented by the first carrier 32, the details ofthis part of the process are described in application Serial No.122,952, now Patent No. 2,604,124, above mentioned. Substantially atthat time the filling is prevented from being drawn from the supplysince the binder 45 is closed. The timing of these mechanisms ispreferably such that the opening of binder 56 precedes very slightly theclosing of binder 45.

If the weaving involves the insertion of separate disconnected picks,the cycle just above described is repeated at each change of the shed.However, it is more preferable to weave interconnected picks or hairpinsand, in that event, the carrier 32 again engages the filling which comesfrom supply S but which at this second pick, is not held by binder 46,although in actual practice it may pass through that binder. Forpurposes of simplifying the illustration it is not so shown here. Thefilling is again engaged and carrier 32 moves inwardly at this timedrawing the filling not only from the supply S, but also from a loop ofexcess or material which tends to be formed adjacent the fabric selvageas the filling is released from certain holding elements all asdisclosed in the application above mentioned but not shown here. Theslower movement of the carrier on this second phase of the cyclepresents two decided advantages in addition to the generally slowerwithdrawal, first, the slower movement as the thread is initiallyengaged as on the first pick, and secondly, the slower movement of theparts and less abrupt action as slack is taken up in the said loop justabove mentioned. This obviates or at least alleviates to a remarkableextent the tendency the mechanism may have at times and with certainrelatively weak fillings to break the thread as it suddenly becomestaut. On this second pick transfer is effected as on the first and thefilling is cut and released so as to provide material enough to extendacross the fabric as the pick is completed, the cut end being then heldin binder 46 which, although not so shown here, is in fact a combinedcutter and binder. The applications above mentioned furnish a completedescription of such instrumentality.

The method and general principles of the invention are applicable to alltypes of shuttleless looms in which carriers insert filling asdescribed. While the carriers are at the ends of flexible members asherein described, it is contemplated that the same general method may beutilized in looms of the needle or rapier type where the carriers orinserting means are not of flexible nature.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. The invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

Iclaimr 1. In a method of weaving in a loom of the type in whichreciprocable carriers are employed to draw and insert picks of fillingfrom an outside source of supply, the steps of drawing a doubled lengthof filling from the supply by a first reciprocable carrier while holdingan end of the filling opposite the supply, transferring the doubledlength of filling to a second reciprocable carrier releasing the firstmentioned held end, holding the filling against further withdrawal fromthe source, and extending an end of the filling first drawn in doublelength, over the width to be woven by said second reciprocable carrier,and so controlling the speed of said reciprocable carriers that thefirst which draws the doubled length moves at a substantially slowerrate and for a distance effectively shorter than the speed and distanceat and through which the second instrumentality is moved.

2. In a method of weaving in a loom of the type in which reciprocablecarriers are employed to draw and insert picks of filling from anoutside source of supply, the steps of inserting each pick by drawingfrom the supply a doubled length of material sumcient to reach acrossthe total width of the fabric being woven, then extending an end of saiddoubled length of filling across the fabric while holding the fillingfrom being drawn from the supply, and so controlling the speed ofdrawing the filling from the supply and extending the end that the firsttakes place at substantially less than twice the lineal speed of thesecond,

3. A method of weaving in a loom of the type in which reciprocablecarriers are employed for inserting filling from an outside source ofsupply by first drawing from the source a doubled length of material ofa length suflicient to extend across the width of fabric being woven bya first reciprocable carrier while retaining an end of the filling, andthen transferring the said doubled length of material to a secondreciprocable carrier and extending the end thereof to the opposite sideof the fabric while holding the filling against further withdrawal fromthe source, which comprises the improvement of drawing filling from thesource of supply at a relatively slow rate of speed by moving the firstreciprocable carrier at a slower lineal speed and for an appreciablysmaller distance as compared to the speed and distance at and over whichthe said second reciprocable carrier is moved.

4. A method of weaving in a loom of the type in which reciprocablecarriers are employed for inserting filling from an outside source ofsupply by first drawing from the source a doubled length of material ofa length sufiicient to extend across the width of fabric being woven bya first reciprocable carrier While retaining an end of the filling, andthen transferring the said doubled length of material to a secondreciprocable carrier and extending the end thereof to the opposite sideof the fabric while holding the filling against further withdrawal fromthe source, which comprises the improvement of positioning the firstreciprocable carrier very close to the filling and of moving thatcarrier very slowly as it first engages the filling to be inserted andthen drawing from the source of supply at a relatively slow rate ofspeed by moving the said carrier substantially less than one-half thedistance across the fabric being woven while moving the opposed orsecond reciprocable carrier an appreciably greater distance and at asubstantially greater velocity to meet the first carrier and to effecttransfer of the filling to said second carrier oil center of the fabricbeing woven thereby to effect 'insertion of a'-'- complete pick in agiven time interval, but to draw the filling from the supply at a slowerrate as compared to the rate at which it'would be drawn if both carrierswere moved equal distances and at the same velocity.

5. A method of weaving in aloomof the type in which recipi'ocablecarriers are employed for inserting filling from an outside source ofsupply by first drawing from thesource a doubled length of material of alength suflici'ent to extend across the width of fabric being woven by afirst reciprocable carrier while retaining an of the filling, and thentransferring the 's'aiddoub'ledlength of material to a secondreciprocable carrier and extending the end thereof to the opposite sideof the fabric while holding the filling against further withdrawal fromthe source, which comprises the improvement of drawing filling from thesource of supply at a relatively slow rate of speed by moving the firstreciprocable carrier at a slower lineal. speed and :i'or an appreciablysmaller distance as compared to speed and distance at 5 d over which thesaid second reciprocable carrier is moved in extending the released ofthe inserted pici: across remainder of the fabric width, and insertingtwo interconnected picks successively in separate while controlling thefillin to be drawn entirely from the supply on the first oi these picksand to be drawn partly from the supply and partly from a released loopof material connected to the fabric selvage for second pick.

6. In a shuttleless loom in which filling from an outside source ofsupply is inserted within successive warp sheds by reciprocable carriersprojecting into and from the shed at each pick, that improvement inmeans for so moving said carriers as to draw the filling from the sourceat a relatively slow rate which comprises means at each side of saidloom for reciprocating the carriers between their withdrawn positionsand a position adjacent but offset from the center of the fabric beingwoven, said means being further so devised as to move that carrier whichserves to draw filling from the source and to insert it part way intothe shed at a substantially slower lineal speed as compared to the speedat which the said means moves the opposed carrier which receives thefilling from the first and extends an end thereof across the fabric.

'7. In a shuttleless loom in which filling is drawn from an outsidesource of supply by a reciprocable carrier and is inserted part waythrough a warp shed while an end of the filling is being held, and isthen transferred from said carrier to a second carrier by which areleased end of the filling is then extended across the fabric, thatimprovement by which the velocity at which the filling is drawn from thesupply is reduced which comprises synchronized means at each end of saidloom by which the said carriers are caused to reciprocate, said meanscomprising gearing and means to oscillate said gearing, that means atthe end for the first carrier having a lesser extent of oscillation thanthe means at the opposite end for the second carrier.

8. In a shuttleless loom in which filling is drawn from an outsidesource of supply by a reciprocable carrier and is inserted part waythrough a warp shed while an end of the filling is being held, and isthen transferred from said carrier to a second carrier by which areleased end of the filling is then extended across the at which thefilling is drawn from the supply is reduced-which comprises oscillatingmembers to which the carriers are attached, andmeans for oscillatingsaid-members which comprises gearing" to said members and harmonicallymoved,

synchronized gear actuating means, *said last mentioned means' having alesser am litude of movementforthecarrier which e1 ges the filling thanhas the similar means at the side of the carrier which extends an end offilling across the fabric.

9. In a shuttleless loom in which filling is drawn from anoutside'source of supply'by a reciprocable carrier and isv inserted partway through a warp shed while an end of the filling is being held, andis then transferred from said carrier to a second carrier by which areleased end of the filling is then extended across the fabric, thatimprovement by which the velocity at which the filling is drawn from thesupply is reduced which comprises oscillatin members to which thecarriers are attached, means for oscillating said members whichcomprises a rotating shaft in said loom, eccentric means at each end ofsaid shaft and means including gearing for imparting motion from saideccentric means to said carriers, said eccentric means having a lesseramplitude of movement at the side for driving that carrier which drawsfilling from the supply as compared to the movement of the eccentricmeans at the opposite side of said loom.

10. In a shuttleless loom having filling carriers fixed at the ends offlexible tapes by which the carriers are reciprocated into and from awarp shed to insert picks of filling drawn from an outside source ofsupply, tape wheels over which said flexible tapes pass and by whichthey are recipro cated, that tape and its carrier by which the fillingis first taken to be drawn from the supply being set closer to the edgeof the fabric being woven than the opposed carrier by which the fillingend is extended when said carriers are in retracted position, and meansto oscillate said tape wheels at differential speeds which comprisessynchronously rotated eccentrics and gearing therefrom to the said tapewheels, that eccentric which imparts motion to the wheel and its tapeand carrier which are positioned adjacent the supply for firstwithdrawing filling therefrom having a lesser throw than that at theopposite side.

11. In a shuttleless loom having two opposed filling carriers each ofwhich is fixed at an end of a flexible tape by which the carrier isreciprocated into and from a warp shed to insert picks of filling drawnfrom an outside source of supply by first projecting a doubled length offilling into the warp shed by one carrier, transferring that filling tothe other carrier and then extending an end of that filling through theremainder of the shed by said other carrier, tape wheels over each ofwhich one of said flexible tapes is passed and by which it isreciprocated, and means for imparting differential movements to saidcarriers through said tapes and wheels which comprises a shaft,eccentrics at the ends of said shaft ad jacent said tape wheels andgearing for imparting a motion derived from said eccentrics to saidwheels, one said eccentric having a greater eccentricity than the other.

12. In a shuttleless loom having two opposed filling carriers each ofwhich is fixed at an end of a flexible tape by which the carrier isreciprocated into and from a warp shed to insert picks 11 of fillingdrawn from an outside source of supply by first projecting a doubledlength of filling into the warp shed by one carrier, transferring thatfilling to the other carrier and then extending an end of that fillingthrough the remainder of the shed by said other carrier, tape wheelsover each of which one of said flexible tapes is passed and by which itis reciprocated, and means for imparting differential movements to saidcarriers through said tapes and wheels which comprises a shaft, aneccentric at each end thereof, a second shaft and gearing for conveyingmotion therefrom to the accompanying tape wheel for each wheel andeccentric, and a rack moved by each said eccentric and geared to itsaccompanying 12 shaft for oscillating that shaft, the eccentric at oneend of said loom having a lesser throw than that at the other endthereby to impart a slower movement of lesser extent to its carrier.

MAURICE R. FLAMAND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,746,465 Gabler Feb. 11, 1930 1,805,046 Menschner May 12,1931 1,883,354 Dreyfus et a1. Oct. 18, 1932 2,106,727 Drobile Feb. 1,1938 2,355,741 Moessinger Aug. 15, 1944

